Featured Josef - Jozef Israels etching? on what

Ok, the signature is identified as that of Jozef Israels, I think it is an etching? my question is what is it printed on? its not like any paper I have seen, you can see it is attatched with small tacks or some kind of staples and how it has shrunk and split over time, it is also quite shiny. Thanks for looking and helping!

 

Could it be vellum? Don't get it wet whatever you do!

 

It could be Chine-collé where the print is made on a fine, tissue-thin material (paper, fabric) and then adhered to a heavier support. Sometimes the bond lets go and strange things can happen.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chine-collé

 

That appears to be correct @moreotherstuff I googled chine-colle and the artist name and found several. Thank you!!

 

Trying to find information about printing on vellum. It was a material used for deluxe editions, many illustrated, but the illustrations were normally relief prints - wood engravings, wood cuts, lino cuts etc.

The printer of your piece was Roeloffzen, Hübner & van Santen, very well regarded and capable of whatever printing techniques with whatever materials were available.

High on the list of problems of printing intaglio prints on vellum would be shrinkage and splitting, but I did find this about a book printed by another firm:



So I guess it could be done.

 

I buy old vellum to make my finest gilding gesso